Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 via The Style Cave

I'm traveling again today, and didn't have time to blog, so today's post comes to you via the very fabulous Style Cave.
One of my favorite bloggers, and one who always steps up and helps me out when I'm traveling, Lana has such a unique perspective on all things fashion, and such a beautiful voice here in bloggy-land.
I adore her blog, and hope you will follow her too.

Check her out at The Style Cave

Chanel Pre-Fall 2012

via The Style Cave

The annual Metiers d'Art collection salutes the hard-working, in-house, Chanel ateliers with a spectacle that throws caution to the wind, by way of extravagance. 

This is haute-couture in the hands of pre-fall.

We know that fashion often sees excess emphasised and drawn upon in times of economic hardship, to heighten that sense of escapist fantasy. But Karl Lagerfeld amplifies this further, letting it teeter on the edge of novelty-but only just.
"The crisis shouldn't be over-emphasised," says Karl Lagerfeld. "People have always responded to difficulty by dressing up in jewels. Anyway, who are these bureaucrats who decide whether we're triple A-rated?"


It was with his own exclusive hold on dystopia that Lagerfeld conjured up India... in Paris... realised by a German. Although, the designer himself admits that he's never even been to India "It's much more inspiring not to go to places than to go," Sometimes fantasy is better than reality.

Nevertheless, Paris-Bombay explored the vast offerings of India- from the palatial grandeur of the Raj, to the Beatles meditating in Rishikesh with John Lennon's Twisted Karma playing in the background. Models were draped in lavish saris, dense with embroidery, wearing jewels, bindis and nose-rings. The men were turbaned Maharajas with layers of rich toned fabrics slung around them. 



With many designer's outsourcing to the east for cheaper manufacturing, Lagerfeld created authentic Indian designs at home in Paris; witty, but paying homage to the hard work on both sides. 


Gold lame, metallic prints and mismatched handmade textures looked like the interior of an opulent palace and complemented the banquet setting. A huge dining table ran alongside the catwalk, piled with luxuries pastries and guava juice for the audience to enjoy. 

Paris, however, was held onto with a fine silhouette, and of course the tweeds. Splashed between vibrant hues, Karl opted for signature monochrome to let modernity brush against the historically rich notion of India.

Like the Paris Byzantine collection of last year, you become enveloped by the theme and by loosening its grip on authenticity, Lagerfeld lets you find your imagination in there somewhere, alongside his. Sometimes fantasy is better than reality.

When Santa Gets His Naughty On....

I haven't had a chance to even think about the festive season yet.

But one thing I'm certain of, I will not be making the nice list. (personal goal - if I'm bad enough in January I can coast through the rest of the year)


Luckily for you the clock hasn't yet run out, you still have time to get some badness in. 
Everyone knows there's no fun to be had on the nice list - the naughty list is where its at.

So lets have a look at some Kiki de Montparnasse options 
for bad Santa when he gets his naughty on.

For the girl who is straddling the line between naughty and nice, 
and who enjoys a fully covered bottom,
purveyor of exquisite lingerie, Kiki de Montparnasse, 
offers her French Lesson Panty set.

There are seven days worth of fully instructional undies to tell your lover exactly what it is you're after. 
In french.
Seen above there is Fesse-moi (spank me), as well as Mange-moi, Attache-moi, Leche-moi, Touche-moi, Aime-moi, and for Sundays, Baise-moi.
Santa can buy them individually, or as a set.
Click here for deets.

Still at the Kiki store,         
there's an option for the girl who likes to put a bow on it.
Check out her 
Ingenue Bow Thong,
in the Ingenue Lingerie Collection.






 


Naughtier if worn with a higher heel,
Kiki de Montparnasse
Muse Heart Panty
might not keep your bottom warm
in the winter months, but at least it leaves something to the imagination during a good game of chasing.

Unsure how to pull of this look with elan?

Don't worry - I've got you covered there too,

via Paz de le Heurta in Kiki de Montparnasse

Playboy France Feb 2009

Playboy France Feb/March 2009

Paz de le Heurta in Kiki de Montparnasse Pin Up Bra and Peek a Boo panty

Valentino's Virtual Museum

Could you just die???

If you are Valentino obsessed (like me) 

then here comes a delicious slice of sartorial eloquence 

that will either drop you to your knees, 

or give you endless hours of fun.

Or both.

Its the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum, 

an interactive app for desktop, tablet and smartphone, 

which takes you through the iconic designer's 

staggering body of work.

Launched December 5th, 

the app cost millions of dollars and two years to create.

Featuring 3D imagery and archived videos, 

a library of nearly all the fashion shows 

across a career that spanned 5 decades, 

and more than 5000 photographs of Valentino designs, 

all housed in an exhibit resembling an actual palazzo.

Something like the ultimate doll house.

Multiple galleries are theme specific, 

including a room that is entirely devoted 

to Valentino's signature red.

Check out the condensed version of the museum below.

Make sure you download the app here

Karlie Kloss Numero 129 January 2012

She's so versatile!

And the world cannot get enough Karlie - 

she is everywhere!

Not just this month, 

but every month.

Here the fabulous Miss Kloss 

is showing an edgier, wilder 

grunge-glam look 

replete with orange locks 

and attitude for days. 

So totally fierce!

Spectacular styling by Elizabeth Sulcer 

 that just stops you in your tracks. 

So creative. So edgy.

So completely arresting.

So loving it!

Photographer: Greg Kadel

Makeup: Maki Ryoke

Hair: Raymond McClaren

Karlie Kloss: Numero 129, January 2012

Irina Shayk For Elle Spain December 2011

Exactly how much hotness can you handle

first thing in the morning??

Irina Shayk goes red hot for Elle Spain December 2011

Wearing luxe gowns by

Lanvin, Dior and Elie Saab

and there's behind the scenes videos too...

I absolutely love these rich, uber sexy 

hair and makeup looks.

Why not rock your inner sex-bomb?

The season feels so much more festive
when viewed in fiery red.

styled by fashion editor Immaculata Jimenez

Shot by Santiago Esteban 

Makeup by David Carreiro

Hair by Jean Louis

Go fierce

or go home

Harpers Bazaar Singapore: The Heiress

I could die over this old school Hollywood glam. 

Doesn't it look like something from the 1950's back issues of Vogue magazine?

Harpers Bazaar Singapore December 2011

The Heiress

And this soooo totally looks like hair by Will Zecco! Even though its not.
When I first saw this shoot I did a double take, thinking it was something Will and I had done.
I wish this was ours - I love it so!!


Model: Masha Tyelna
Photographer: Gan

How To Look Good With A Hangover

Woo hoo!! Its party season.

Endless fab outfits, endless fun to be had.

And hangovers to wake up to.

charming...

Before we go any further you have to know that there is nothing hot, sexy or cool about a drunk girl.

She's just a drunk girl.

And to everyone who's not drunk, she looks stupid. 

Stupid drunk girl.

However...

There are times that you wake up on the wrong side of a good time, feeling the pain, looking like the devil, and you still have to get up and go to work/meeting/a shoot 

and you need to look good, fast.

I've done about a million early morning shoots/breakfast TV segments

with girls who've partied their hearts out the night before, 

and now need a high speed trip to gorgeous-land,

and I've got the roadmap for you.

So here's the recipe:

How To Look Good With A Hangover

1. Drink water and poweraid.

Tons of water and poweraid.

You absolutely have to get your system rehydrated. 

Otherwise you will look like a worn out old bag all day. 

2. Exfoliate.

Even if you did it yesterday, do it again.

You need tons of moisturizing, and the extra exfoliation will help your face to absorb it.

3. Hydrating Face Mask & Eye Gels

Take 10 minutes to lie down (you probably want to anyway) and get a mega infusion of help.

Skyn Iceland skin care products are solutions for stressed skin, and believe me, work wonders.

4. Shower

You're smelly, so make it a good one.

5.Use Eye Makeup Remover

Get rid of last night's mascara and liner before you go even one step further.

Trying to pull off a slick eye makeup maneuvre over the remnants of last night's products just looks skanky.

Not the look we're going for.

6. Eyedrops

You need them. Clear your bloodshot, itchy eyes with a dousing of drops.

Blue eyedrops will make your eyes look super white again

7.Hydrating Serum or Grape Seed Oil. Or both.

Your skin will need it, and will soak it up like crazy.

8. More water, more poweraid. B12 if you have it.

9. Depuffing Eye Cream

In my kit I carry Kiehls Facial Fuel Eye Depuffer just for clients who've been on the boogie the night before.

10. Moisturizer.

Your liver and your brain will have soaked up every available drop of moisture in your body, so you have to keep adding more in.

A moisturizer with caffeine and menthol will get your skin invigorated again. Try Nickel Day Spa Morning After Recovery Gel. Designed for dudes who played it too hard the night before, it works wonders on the ladies too.

11. Drink More Water and Poweraid.

12. Use A Good Primer. A Really Good Primer...

Give yourself a couple of minutes to sit down (you'll want it) while your moisturizer soaks in, then apply a really good primer, such as Makeup Forever HD Primer. (the violet one will cancel out that sallow, hungover look). Your skin will be thirsty and will eat off your makeup, so you have to help it out all you can.

13. Don't Use A Matte Foundation, Or A Powder Foundation, Or A Crushed Mineral Foundation

Instead use something dewy and light reflective. All of the above will make you look like an extra tired version of the Crypt Keeper. You have to pull out every trick possible to make your skin look luminous.

14.Use A Cream Blush

I recommend them everyday anyway, but for the girl with the hangover a cream blush will help infuse love and light into your cheeks and your complexion. Powder blush will make you look old and hungover.

15. Use Bronzer

Preferably a lightweight rose champagne that is slightly reflective. 

You need to warm your complexion and help it to glow. 

Otherwise you will look half dead. 

Especially if it was a big night out...

16. More water, More poweraid

17. Flesh Roned Liner Along The Waterline

Don't be fooled into using a white liner. It looks ridic.

Flesh toned liner will open the eye and make it look lighter and brighter.

Assuming you worked wonders with your color correcting concealer, we now need to lift and open your eyes.

Avoid lining the lower lid if possible, and focus liner on the outer corner of the upper lid.

Curl your lashes, and go all out with a ton of mascara. As in, create a major diversion with it.

18. Use A Juicy Gloss

Hungover lips look less than luscious. Frequently they look parched and cracked, so a heavy lipstick looks awful. Instead opt for a colored gloss. 

Choose one thats good and juicy, so that your lips look alive. 

But don't go for a porno-gloss. 

Anything too glossy will make you look like last night's good time. 

Which maybe you were.

19. Perfume.

You smell. Put something good on. 

That fresh out of the shower loveliness will have worn off about, oh, 5 minutes after you dried off. 

Opt for something fresh and lively. 

This isn't one of your sexy, spicy moments.

20. Breathmints

Even if you brushed your teeth 20 times, be advised that she who is hungover has raunchy breath.

Chewing on a wad of gum not only makes you look bovine, but it also looks so cheap and tacky. Which is the exact opposite of the look we're going for.

Most importantly, whatever you did last night, own it.

haha!! As if she tied one on last night???Left Bank Chic...

Walk tall, head held high. You can get away with almost anything with a good lip gloss and a sexy slice of confidence.

Go girl.